The idea for Little Free Libraries that started in Wisconsin has spread across the nation and abroad, reaching 32 countries.

It has finally arrived in Northampton.

On a recent trip to Michigan, Northampton resident Amanda Thrash encountered a Little Free Library and decided that it was an idea worth bringing home.

Thrash had read about the libraries before, but had not seen them in use.

After doing some research on littlefreelibrary.org, she decided to set up a library outside her home.

In the front of her yard is a miniature library, designed by Thrash and built with her grandfather's help, that houses about 30 books.

"In a nutshell, the idea behind Little Free Libraries is 'take a book, give a book,'" Thrash explained.

The library operates on the honor system and books require no sign-out.

The rules are simple: if a person borrows a book, he or she must replace it with another one, or return the borrowed book after they have finished reading it.

"The idea is to promote literacy for adults and kids in a free book exchange," Thrash said.

A lifelong lover of reading, Thrash believes that Little Free Libraries is a valuable resource for children and young adults who may tend to gravitate towards using electronic reading devices.

"I see a lot of kids who have books on their Kindles or iPads; they end up reading a book for about 30 seconds and then stop to go on the Internet or play games," she said.

Because of this, Thrash believes that providing people with actual books through her Little Free Library will encourage more people to become fully immersed in their reading.

Since passing out flyers in her neighborhood to spread the word about the library, the books in Thrash's box – which range from children's books to cookbooks to fiction and nonfiction for adults – have been in a steady rotation.

"Parents have been bringing their kids, who are really enthusiastic about it," she said. "Last week there were at least 20 new books."

What differentiates Little Free Libraries from standard libraries or book stores, Thrash explained, is that "it's a more personal experience; it's like having a conversation about books with your neighbors."

To promote the idea of sharing books with the community, people are encouraged to leave notes in the books that describe why they enjoyed their reading.

Others seeking a new book can then refer to the notes to help them decide which book to borrow.

Thrash said that she is "trying to kick start something new in the area," and encourages others in the community to start their own Little Free Libraries.

More information about Thrash's Little Free Library can be found on Facebook by searching for "Little Free Library #8444," or by visiting littlefreelibrary.org to find it on the "world map" of officially registered libraries.

To participate in the book exchange, simply bring a book that you want to share to Thrash's library on West 30th Street in Northampton, drop it off, browse the shelves and find a new one that catches your eye.